Binder for loose-leaf ledgers.



No. 859,630. 7 PATBNTED JULY 9, 1907.

i. s. THOMPSON.

BINDER FOR LOOSE LEAF LEDGERS.

APPLIUATION rum APR. 19, 1907.

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A TTORNE Y5 JOHN S. THOMPSON, OF O ONYERS, GEORGlA.

BINDER FOR LOOSE-LEAF LEDGERS.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907.

Application filed April 19, 1907. Serial No- 369,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN S. THoMPsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oonyers, in the county of Rockdale and State of Georgia,have invented a new and useful Binder for Loose-Leaf Ledgers, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to binders for use in connection with loose leafledgers and its object is to provide simple, durable and eificient meanswhereby the leaves of a ledger can be readily placed and secured inposition.

Another object is to provide leaf engaging means de signed to so supportthe leaves as to prevent them from becomingwedged within the bindingmeans and interfering with the operation'thereof. Binders usingtelescopic leaf engaging members have heretofore been foundobjectionable because certain of the leaves often become wedged betweenthe back and one end of one of the tubular members and prevent thebinder from being clamped upon the leaves in the effective mannerdesired.

The object of the present invention is to utilize telescopic leafengaging portions which are so positioned as to prevent the leaves frominterfering with the clamping action of the binder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a binder having meanswhereby the fastening devices may be supported out of contact with thesurface of a desk or table on which the binder is placed and thereforeprevent it from scratching said surface.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts which will behereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of theinvention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the binder open, the backsbeing broken. away; Fig. 2 is a section on line x-x, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is asection on line yy, Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a section on line z'z, Fig. 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 and 2 designatethe back plates of the binder the same being slidably mounted one uponthe other and the plate 2 having guide flanges 3 at the ends thereofwhich lap the ends-of the plate 1 and serve to prevent longitudinaldisplacement of the plates. Plate 2 also has a plurality of transverselyextending slots 4 each of which is disposed to receive a binding screw 5which is disposed to engage the plate 1 so that when the same is screwedtoward said plate its head will bind upon the plate 2 and lock the twoplates against independent movement.

Formed along the outer longitudinal edge of each plate 1 and 2 is acylindrical supporting bead 6 designed to bear upon the surface on whichthe binder is placed so as to hold the heads of screws 5 out of contactwith said surface. Extending from these beads and at right angles to theplates 1 and 2 are the side walls 7 and 8 respectively of the binder. Itwill be noted that the lower edges of these walls contact throughouttheir lengths with the plates 1 and 2 as shown at 9 so that when thebinder is placed in position shown in Fig. 3 the weight of the ledgerwill be transferred directly from the side walls 7 and 8 onto the plates1 and Zand supporting beads 6.

Secured to the plate 7 adjacent its ends are tubular leaf engagingmembers 10 and extending from said wall 7 between the tubes 10 arefingers 11. Fingers 12 are secured to the plate 8 and are slidablymounted within the tubes 10 and tubular members 13 are secured to theplate 8 and receive the fingers 1.1 of plate 7.

When it is desired to bind leaves in the device herein described thescrews 5 are loosened so as to permit the plates 1 and 2 to be drawn inopposite directions until limited by the contact of the screws with theends of slots 4. The leaves, one of which has been shown at 14 in Fig.2, are then placed upon the tubes 10 and 13 and fingers 11 and 12 and itis obvious that each leaf will rest upon two of the tubular members asshown in Fig. 2. If the leaf is supported by the tubular members 13 itwill be held out of contact with the fingers l2 and therefore when thewalls of the binder are drawn together there will be no danger of saidleaf becoming clamped between the tubes 10 and the wall 8. Likewiseshould the leaf be supported by the tubular me1nbers 10 it would be heldout of contact with the fingers 11. When the desired number of leaveshave been placed upon the tubes and fingers in the manner de scribed thetwo walls 7 and 8 are drawn together so as to clamp upon the leaves andthe plates 1 and 2 are then locked by tightening the screws 5.

In order that the backs of the binder may be securely edge of each ofthese clamping plates is preferably inclined as shown at 18.

What is claimed is: 1. A binder comprising slidably connected backplates,

means for locking said plates against movement, a side y wall upstandingfrom and integral with each plate, telescopic leaf engaging meansextending from said walls, and a cylindrical supporting bead disposedlongitudinally upon 5 each plate, said side walls contacting throughouttheir lengths with the plates.

2. A binder comprising slidably connected back plates, means forsecuring said plates in adjusted position, a longitudinally disposedcylindrical supporting bead upon 10 each plate, a side wall extendingfrom each head and contacting throughout its length with the adjoiningback plate, and oppositely extending telescopic leaf engaging membersupon the side walls.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I

' have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two wit 15 nesses.

JOHN S. THOMPSON.

Witnesses V. C. ALMANN, E. F. COOK.

